the area . after receiving a federal land grant of about 2 @ , @ 000 acres ( 81 ##0 ha ) , richard mc ##lem ##ore , the first settler of meridian , began offering free land to newcomers to attract more settlers to the region and develop the area . most of mc ##lem ##ore ' s land was bought in 1853 by lewis a . rags ##dale , a lawyer from alabama . john t . ball , a merchant from kemp ##er county , bought the remaining 80 acres ( 0 @ . @ 32 km ##2 ) . rags ##dale and ball , now known as the founders of the city , began laying out lots for new development on their respective land
the area. after receiving a federal land grant of about 2 @, @ 000 acres ( 810 ha ), richard mclemore, the first settler of meridian, began offering free land to newcomers to attract more settlers to the region and develop the area. most of mclemore's land was bought in 1853 by lewis a. ragsdale, a lawyer from alabama. john t. ball, a merchant from kemper county, bought the remaining 80 acres ( 0 @. @ 32 km2 ). ragsdale and ball, now known as the founders of the city, began laying out lots for new development on their respective land